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Robert Fairs
Michelin-starred chef
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
The Climb
A kitchen apprenticeship built on repetition, timing and physical work is what sits behind Robert Fairs’s rise: dishwasher at Cassels Brewery restaurant in Christchurch, intern at restaurant in Copenhagen from 2015, then head chef at Roots in Lyttelton from 2017. Each step added responsibility without changing the core discipline required at the pass. The move from service end to leadership was incremental, then obvious. Since 2021, ownership and the chef’s role have sat together at Londo in Christchurch, and that combination has defined the next phase of Robert Fairs’s work. Running a room means more than cooking to order; it also means setting the tempo, deciding what stays on the list, and making the edit visible in the final shape of the restaurant.
Today
Since 2021, he has run Londo in Christchurch as owner and chef. The restaurant’s stripped-back offer has been part of the point, with a confidence that seems to come from knowing exactly what not to overcomplicate. The line captures the spirit of the place: pared down, unshowy, and deliberately focused, where the edit is as meaningful as the cooking itself.
Recognition
Robert Fairs has received MICHELIN Guide Young Chef Award (2026). Young Chef Award and Bib Gourmand mark the outside recognition, but the work already reads clearly in the progression itself: from sink to service to leadership, then into a role where Robert Fairs could define a restaurant with fewer moving parts and less noise. The through-line is control of the basics, then control of the room.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Robert
What is Robert Fairs's current role?
As of 2026, Robert Fairs is Owner and Chef.
Where did Robert Fairs work before?
Robert Fairs's earlier career included Cassels Brewery restaurant, restaurant in Copenhagen, and Roots.
What recognition has Robert Fairs received?
Young Chef Award (2026).
